Dr Addi Haran has resigned from her position as president of Oxford University’s Student Union in order to speak out against what she described as “institutional malpractice” she experienced during her time in the role. In an exclusive statement to Cherwell, Haran cited “efforts to obstruct student engagement, undermine student leadership and democracy, suppress student journalism, and deny students the transparency and accountability they rightfully deserve.”
The resignation follows the introduction of a plan that in July, for the first time in SU history, its trustee board will no longer have a majority that is directly elected by students. Haran said: “Over the past year, unelected officials have increasingly seized control over decisions that should belong to students.”
As the actual governing body of the SU, the current trustee board has nine members total: Three elected sabbatical officers, two directly elected to the board by students, and four external members, usually approved by the student council. Last year, the external members were not approved by the student council but recruited by the CEO and approved by the previous board as an emergency measure. The two directly elected roles have not been advertised in the upcoming SU elections because the incumbents’ terms were extended “with no democratic approval”.
This means that by July, only four sabbatical officer members of the board – a minority – will be directly elected by students.
The resignation comes around midway through Haran’s term, which is due to end in July this year. It also comes right before SU elections for its four sabbatical roles – reduced from the previous six – with nominations opening this Friday. Haran became president in June 2024 and ran her campaign on the platform “a university that cares” which focused on improving equality and welfare.
Last term, the SU issued an apology to former SU President Danial Hussain following two unfounded suspensions. Hussain told Cherwell at the time that he too faced “internal obstruction against increasing accountability, effectiveness, and transparency.” Hussain also described facing “constant unprofessional, hostile, and discriminatory behaviour from those within the organisation intent on discrediting my leadership.”
Cherwell has contacted the SU for a reply.
Haran’s full statement:
“As President of the Oxford SU, I worked tirelessly to deliver on my mandate from students. I’m proud of my achievements: improving support for postgraduate students through the Graduate Access Report, advocating for equality in student experience with the College Monitor Platform, and, most of all, driving institutional reform by designing and securing support for the Conference of Common Rooms Model.
“While I am proud of these achievements, my time in office has revealed deeper cultural and systemic problems within the SU that demand serious attention. My duty to students has always been to ensure that the SU was, first and foremost, accountable to and led by students.
“After much reflection, remaining in this role would prevent me from fully upholding this responsibility. It is only by stepping down that I can honestly act in the best interests of students, which is why I have decided to resign.
“The Oxford SU has fundamentally failed to fulfil its obligation to represent and serve students. I repeatedly fought against efforts to obstruct student engagement, undermine student leadership and democracy, suppress student journalism, and deny students the transparency and accountability they rightfully deserve. This pattern of behaviour betrays the very purpose of a students’ union.
“Over the past year, unelected officials have increasingly seized control over decisions that should belong to students. This needs to be exposed and addressed if we want the transformation process to be truly meaningful and student-led. Remaining within the organisation would mean being constrained by the very systems I must challenge. I could not be a part of and complicit in this institutional malpractice.
“The SU has the potential to fulfil its purpose – but only if it faces up to the scale of the reform needed. I remain committed to driving that change, even from outside the organisation, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who has supported me throughout this journey so far.”
